1. Upside Down Snickers
Though this bakery is known for its authentic French pastries, a beloved American classic is given a gourmet twist with Barberet’s upside down Snickers. Peanut butter mousse is layered with fluffy hazelnut dacquoise, concealing a chewy salted-caramel center. The chocolate-dipped creation is then piped with a swirl of milk chocolate whipped cream and sprinkled with peanut brittle crumble. This delectable tart, as well as a third of Barberet’s pastry case, is gluten free.
Barberet / Lancaster, PA / 26eastlancaster.com
2. Caramel Pumpkin Mocha Tort
This beautiful cake boasts an array of fall flavors all perfectly harmonized to create an experience not unlike sipping a spiced mocha latte. Four flavors of cake—chocolate espresso, caramel, pumpkin spice, and vanilla—are filled and iced with a caramel coffee buttercream. The finishing touch is a layer of chocolate ganache, which cascades down the cake complementing its coffee-themed décor.
Pennsylvania Bakery / Camp Hill, PA / pabakery.com
3. French Macarons
Of the over 20 flavors of French macarons that Helena’s produces, mocha, raspberry, and Nutella are the most enduringly popular with customers. Each macaron is a chewy combination of two colorful almond flour meringue cookies filled with French buttercream. Playfully elegant in appearance, they’re a delight at any fall fête.
Helena’s Chocolate Cafe and Creperie / Carlisle, PA / helenascafe.com
4. Seven Layer Death By Chocolate Cake
As the owner of La Petite Patisserie Donna Lussier attests, this delectable cake inspires one to slow down and savor every bite. Layers of moist chocolate cake alternate with velvety ganache and rich Swiss chocolate buttercream. C’est un délice!
La Petite Patisserie / Lancaster, PA / petitedessert.com
5. Pumpkin Spiced Tres Leches Cake
Autumnal flavors dress up a beloved Latin American confection in Cupcakes and More’s pumpkin spiced tres leches cake. Cream cheese frosting is layered between rich, velvety pumpkin spiced cake layers—ones that are soaked in three milks to achieve a signature saturated texture. The subtle spice of chai tea whipped cream finishes the delicacy.
Cupcakes and More / York, PA
6. Maple Bacon Stout Cupcake
Sugar Whipped Bakery uses only fresh, local ingredients, such as free-range eggs, to craft their handmade treats. They have a passion for cupcakes which are available in dozens of flavors. One of their most decadent combines salty bacon, sweet maple syrup, and creamy stout beer sourced from St. Boniface Craft Brewery in Ephrata, PA, to create a small but intensely flavorful little treat.
Sugar Whipped Bakery / Lititz, PA / sugarwhippedbakery.com
7. Chocolate Decadence Cake
The Cake Bar is always ready to serve up slices of its layered creations; they have at least half a dozen ready-to-cut cakes in a variety of flavors each day. Their Chocolate Decadence is a customer favorite, which unsurprisingly lives up to its name. Chocolate in multifarious forms—mousse and ganache among them—comes together for a truly sumptuous experience.
Cake Bar / Hanover, PA